Odyssey: Guess the UK Tracklisting!

[Dave]

OK, I'm frustrated at still not knowing the UK tracklisting for Odyssey, exactly one month after Keith first told us the International tracklisting. But we do have a few clues now, so I thought I'd put them together and have a guess at it - if anyone disagrees or has any more clues, post away!

Obviously, they could decide to drop the idea of having Odyssey in the UK classical chart and that would make guessing a lot easier - but I've seen no suggestion of that so I will assume that Hayley & Co. are still trying to get it into the classical charts. Anyway, here are the clues I have, so far:

• We know unofficially from sources close to Hayley that a UK "classical" version will probably lose three of the "International" tracks.
  
  
• We know that She Moves Through the Fair may, sadly, be one of the tracks dropped.
  
  
• Hayley was set to record at least one (O Mio Babbino Caro) and possibly two extra "classical" tracks just before leaving the UK.
  
  
• 18, possibly 19 tracks are now known to have been recorded for Odyssey (including the late addition(s)).
  
  
• A duet with Bryn Terfel was mentioned in the Hampton Court programme notes but hasn't been heard of since.
  
  
• A couple of classical tracks were mentioned on Hayley's Japanese website initially (Dido's Lament and 'From a Mozart Piano Concerto') then removed from the final tracklisting
  
  
• The first attempt at a UK tracklisting has now appeared online - at Crotchet Classical here. They always show tracklistings so they probably asked, and this is their listing: TRACKS: includes : What You Never Know Won't Hurt You. May It Be from the Lord Of The Rings. Prayer. Never Saw Blue. Dell' Amore Non Si Sa (duet with Andrea Bocelli). Ave Maria (Caccini). Both Sides Now. Quanta Qualia. Interestingly, they don't include the last three tracks on the International version: She Moves Through the Fair, I Say Grace and My Heart Belongs to You. This fits in with what we were told unofficially, that they would probably have to drop three tracks. Crotchet don't mention Aria (Cantilena) but I'm sure that will be kept, on the UK version.
  
  
• 6 pop tracks and 2 classical are listed by Crotchet.
  
  
• For the classical charts, at least 60% of the album tracks must be "classical" i.e. 40% or less non-classical. So with 6 pop tracks, you need at least 9 "classical" tracks... 15 altogether.
  
  
• any bonus tracks on the main CD would form part of the "classical chart" calculations.
  
  
• Bridal Ballad is owned by less than 10% of the UK Hayley fans who bought "Pure", so it might make a suitable bonus track for Odyssey.
  
  
• The Japanese version of Odyssey is 15 tracks, including 3 bonus tracks, two of which are Bridal Ballad and Wiegenlied (both probably "classical")

From all this, I'm going to guess the UK tracklisting - it's probably wrong but I hope it's at least logical!

1 - 9 As International version (6 pop, 3 classical)
10. Dido's Lament (this we know exists)
11. O Mio Babbino Caro (newly recorded)
12. From a Mozart Piano Concerto (once mentioned on the Japanese official site)
13. Another new classical track (Bryn Terfel duet?)
14. Wiegenlied (bonus track)
15. Bridal Ballad (bonus track)

That makes 6 pop and 9 classical, so the 60% requirement is exactly met. There is hopefully some flexibility in tracks 14 and 15 as the number of "new" tracks there is only 13 + 3 dropped ones = 16, and we believe Hayley has recorded at least 18 new tracks for Odyssey. But, I have tried to stick to tracks where I have some evidence that they actually exist!

Alternatively, they could drop one pop and one classical track from the above list... but I don't think they'd want to go down to only 5 pop tracks. Wouldn't you just LOVE a 15 track UK edition? Hopefully, we shall soon find out i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

[kcuteus1]

This is what I think I think they would not make much changs as that alot of changes would make it not the same cd and I think she would not what that. And from looking at what she saids with interviews it looks like she is happy with how the cd is now. And there are about five songs I know whould not be taking off as that thease look like some of the ones that she likes alot. Both sides now, never saw blue, I Say greace , what you never know, Ave maria, Aria, And the other classical song would mostly say put and I do not think she did a duet with Bryn Terfel for the cd I know something say something about it but nothing with him says it and he was reconding his cd and doing other stuff so I do not know how much time he had to do this.

[kcuteus1]

Here is how I think the UK tarcklisting would be.

Player
Never saw blue
Dell'amore Non Si Sa
Ave Maria (Caccini)
Both Sides Now
What You Never Know (Won't Hurt You)
may it be
Quanta Qualia
Bachianas
Wiegenlied
I say grace
dido lamlet
that song base on a Mozart Piano Concerto
O Mio Babbino Caro
My Heart Belongs To You
Bridal Ballad

I think with may it be they can try and make it more classical. I do not know how colse I will be.

[Dave]

More clues... this time from HMV UK (Reviews tab):

"Aug 2005
The pure voice of Hayley Westenra returns. 'Odyssey' is the highly anticipated follow up album to her debut release 'Pure', the album that shot her to stardom worldwide. Although the bias of repertoire on this new album is classical, Hayley also showcases her extraordinary talent for songwriting with the beautiful new track 'What You Never Know' (Won't Hurt You).

'Odyssey' features beautiful versions of 'Wiegenlied' (Mozart), Caccini's 'Ave Maria', 'May It Be' (as featured in Lord of The Rings) and Quanta Qualia (a melodic choral piece). The album also includes Hayley's version of Joni Mitchells' 'Both Sides Now', a beautiful ballad called 'Never Saw Blue' (Like That) and Dell' Amore Non Si Sa - a sensational duet with Andrea Bocelli."

So... Wiegenlied IS added to the UK version and "the bias of repertoire on this new album is classical" which makes me think there are more classical pieces yet to be added.

This is starting to feel more like an Agatha Christie mystery novel rather than an album release!

[Raymond]

Yes, it is difficult to guess, just like a novel by Agatha Christie, I can never guess the murderer.

[Dave]

The more I think about this and the more I listen to "Odyssey", the harder it is to see how they can EVER produce a "classical" version for the UK that's as good as the one we already have.

I can't see them dropping Both Sides Now (Hayley loves it I think) or Dell' Amore Non Si Sa (political... and both these have been widely advertised). I can't see them wanting to drop "My Heart Belongs To You" (I love that one and I think it would be popular on mainstream MOR radio) . All the other tracks are great!

So there are only two that I think they can easily drop, She Moves Through The Fair (reluctantly for them but not for me) and I Say Grace. So that leaves 7 remaining pop tracks and it means they will need eleven classical ones - an 18 track album!!! And, I've no idea where they can find eight extra classical tracks from

I'm glad I haven't got the job of making it qualify for the classical chart., I cannot see how they are going to do it without spoiling the album. Maybe they can re-mix one of the existing tracks? (May It Be with a big orchestral ending?). Mind you, they did put two versions of Hine e Hine on UK "Pure" so *anything* is possible! i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif Who knows, but all this waiting is SO frustrating.

[roger]

This isn't a guess, I have just heard a track on Classic FM which is not on the NZ version. It is Mozart's Laudate dominum. It sounded pretty good to me!

It proves that at least one radio station already has a pre-release copy of the UK version so, hopefully, there will be regular airplay from now on.

Roger

[Raymond]

That's great, Roger.
Are there any list that shows which songs will be played at a specific time?
Cheers,
Raymond

[Raymond]

They are now playing'Bridal Ballad', thayt's great. I will keep listening to Classics FM.
Cheers,
Raymond

[roger]

raymond said:

That's great, Roger.
Are there any list that shows which songs will be played at a specific time?
Cheers,
Raymond

Hi Raymond,

This will take you to the Classic FM Playlist

From there you can select "yesterday", "today" or "tomorrow" for details of what has been or will be played.

At times, no details are available. That is usually because they are broadcasting a request programme.

Happy listening!
Roger

[Raymond]

roger said:

raymond said:

That's great, Roger.
Are there any list that shows which songs will be played at a specific time?
Cheers,
Raymond

Hi Raymond,

This will take you to the Classic FM Playlist

From there you can select "yesterday", "today" or "tomorrow" for details of what has been or will be played.

At times, no details are available. That is usually because they are broadcasting a request programme.

Happy listening!
Roger

Thank you, Roger.
Cheers,
Raymond

[Dave]

Thanks Roger, I've just found Hayley's Laudate Dominum on my recording of this morning's Classic FM Chart show - more facts! I reckon we have now had it pretty well confirmed (from the International Odyssey, retailer's websites, Classic FM, Steve etc.) that the following Classical recordings exist and will probably be on the UK version:

1. Ave Maria (existing Odyssey)
2. Quanta Qualia (existing Odyssey)
3. Bachianas Aria (existing Odyssey)
4. Wiegenlied (two sources)
5. O Mio Babbino Caro (two sources)
6. Laudate Dominum (Classic FM)
7. Dido's Lament (two sources).

That's more than half of a typical album and personally, I can't see them going that far without going all the way to 60%. It seems to me that a UK "classical chart" version is now pretty certain and it will be fascinating to see exactly how they get there. I still think the two most likely possibilities are (classical/total): 8/13 = 61% (8 classical + 5 pop) or 9/15 = 60% (9 classical + 6 pop). Does that make sense?

I hope the late tracklist changes and extra recordings for the UK version don't result in an album that sounds like it's been done in a hurry, that would be a great pity.

Cheers, Dave

[kcuteus1]

If she has 9 or 8 clasical that would change the cd too much and I do not think that is good what they should do is keep eaverthing and just add the other songs I think it would be best the cd like that . That would make 16 songs. And I think I would like a cd more with 16 songs than a cd that has 14 or 12 I know she whats it on the classicl chart but that is not everything. Katine Jekins nomal cd has 16 songs and her limited ededion has 18 songs on it. And I think she only has 7 classical songs But can't they also go my lenged and I think some of the songs they can add stuff to make tham more classical like may it be, she moves thought the fair, and the prayer I know thare would some people that got away with she moves though the fair being classical. So I hope it has 16 songs on it. I think it would be a bad idea to take a song off and the pop songs I would not call pop but I am someone that does not do the simple classifition . I think she trys to hard and in the long run that may not be a good thing she needs to make all her fans happy but making make changes to a cd I think is not that good of a idea. I think the reason that the uk cds has more classical songs on it has to do with her fans. If there is a song that is taking off I think it would be one song the most poppy song.

[HWI]

I think we've been around this one before. Some, in other countries, may not think it particularly important for the album to qualify for the UK classical chart. As has been previously explained, it is. The reasoning is simple and, if I miss anything out, I am sure that Dave will correct me.

1) Achieving listing on the classical chart equals considerably more radio airplay. This is how more fans are attracted all the time. Look at the chart success of Pure. 100 consecutive weeks in both the Classical Artist Chart and the Classic FM Chart.

2) Being in the general, shall we call it "pop", chart would produce a much briefer residency in the chart with consequent fewer radio airplays. This would also result in far fewer people hearing it over a period of time. That would dramatically reduce sales. And we all know where that leads.

3) In the 2 years we have had Pure, tracks have been played on Classic FM radio (the largest classical radio station in the world) consistently throughout that period. Videos are also regularly played on ClassicFM TV. This represents top quality exposure to the music buying public. As a result, Classic FM have been very good to Hayley and, by qualifying for the classical chart, it is seen as their opportunity to give something back to Classic FM in the form of new material for their playlsts.

4) It's what the UK music buying public at large want.

And that is, in my opinion, all the justification that is needed. Plus, it does give us the opportunity of a Special Edition release at a later date.

Keith.

[Dave]

Yes Keith, I think its the safe thing to do. Lots of airplay on Classic FM probably guarantees a platinum disc and gives Hayley the chance of another 2 X platinum. If she doesn't get in the classical chart, they will still play her but nowhere near as much.

If Hayley manages to get a lot of Radio 2 airplay as well, she would be pretty well guaranteed a 2 X platinum disc in my opinion - and it could even go 3 X platinum by Christmas (beating Pure) but that would be exceptional. But, for some reason, Radio 2 didn't seem to play Hayley much when I was listening out for it around and after Christmas 2003. Before then, I hadn't "discovered" Hayley so I don't know! Roger, Keith, can you remember if Hayley was played much on Radio 2 or other "pop" stations at that time (September to December 2003) compared, say, to the airplay that people like Dido and Norah Jones were getting, and Katie Melua has been getting since then?

If Radio 2 cannot be relied on to play Hayley much (especially if she quickly drops out of the pop chart like Charlotte has done), Classic FM would be her "last line of defence" against a possible UK flop. Anything less than a good platinum disc by Christmas will be a relative flop in my opinion. The safe thing to do is guarantee the Classic FM airplay (classical chart!) then take your chances with Radio 2 airplay and other stations... they would be a bonus. If we get the bonus, and Radio 2 and other "pop" stations play Odyssey a lot, Hayley could safely release her next album as a "pop" album and not worry too much about getting in the classical charts.

As far as mainstream TV and radio promo is concerned, I don't think Hayley will get as much publicity as when Pure was released because she is no longer as "new, fresh and exciting" for the media as she was back in 2003. Also, I think Decca will want to spend a lot less money promoting Odyssey than they did promoting "Pure" - at some point they will want a better return on their investment than they probably got from "Pure" which must have cost them A LOT more money than usual to produce and promote.

There's another thing too. I get the distinct impression of a "love affair" between Hayley and Classic FM. They think they are good for each other and want this to continue. They never seem to fail to play a track from "Pure" in the chart show but they often skip tracks by other singers. They said this morning that Hayley is a regular listener to the station when she's in the UK and that she first heard "Quanta Qualia" on Classic FM then decided to record it. I believe that Hayley herself is leading this effort to get it in the classical chart - partly out of loyalty to Classic FM, who have been good to her. I *know* it isn't the Record Company that's leading the "push".

So, for better or worse, I'm with Hayley on this one and I can only hope that it pays off. But there's certainly no guarantee that she is doing the right thing! i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif